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Joint venture (JV) meaning

What does Joint venture (JV) mean?
In legal practice, a joint venture (JV) describes a collaborative arrangement in which two or more parties pool resources-such as cash, assets, IP and expertise-to carry out a specific project or an ongoing business, sharing risk, control and returns under agreed governance. It may create a new vehicle or share control of an existing business. The term is not defined by statute or settled as a term of art in case law in England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland; it is a descriptive label used across corporate, commercial and competition law. JVs may be: - Incorporated (a JV company with shareholders’ agreement and articles). - Partnership- or LLP-based. - Unincorporated/contractual (consortium, collaboration or joint venture agreement), including informal. Key legal features typically addressed are contributions and funding; decision‑making/deadlock; ownership and exploitation of assets and IP; profit/cost sharing; transfer and exit; confidentiality/non‑compete; dispute resolution; and compliance (competition law, merger control, public procurement and sectoral approvals). Duties and tax outcomes depend on structure (for example, company directors’ duties versus partners’ fiduciary duties). Usage is consistent across the UK and Ireland, noting that Scottish partnerships have separate legal personality, whereas partnerships in England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland do not.
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View the related Checklists about Joint venture (JV)

CHECKLISTS
Terminating or exiting joint ventures: practitioner checklist on routes for corporate and unincorporated JVs, including share transfers (tag/drag), expulsion, deadlock, unfair prejudice, winding up and insolvency consequences

This Checklist This Checklist highlights the different avenues for bringing a joint venture (JV) to a close or facilitating an exit, and the factors to weigh depending on the pathway chosen. For guidance on addressing a JV dispute, see Practice Note: Joint venture disputes—how to respond. For further detailed guidance on terminating joint ventures where a specially created or nominated joint venture company (JVC) is involved, see the following Practice Notes: Termination—corporate joint ventures Tax implications of operating and terminating a joint venture company Corporate joint venture dispute—dealing with deadlock: initial considerations Majority-minority joint venture dispute—a practical illustration Entering a JV relationship usually calls for significant planning and effort from the JV parties, who opt to work together for mutual advantage (often by sharing cost, resources and expertise). You will need to assess the full ramifications of ending or exiting the JV, including whether there are sound reasons to be prepared to see that investment lost if the JV is...

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CHECKLISTS
Corporate real estate joint ventures: drafting checklist for JV company shareholders’ agreements and articles, including funding, approvals, governance, transfers, deadlock, valuation and exit routes (English law)

Purpose of checklist This checklist aims to set out the types of considerations that must be kept in view-and for which client instructions will be required-when preparing a joint venture agreement (JVA) and articles of association for a corporate real estate transaction. For further key points to address when drafting a JVA, see Checklists: Corporate joint venture preliminary issues-checklist and Joint venture shareholders’ agreement-checklist. See also Practice Note: Property Joint Ventures-general issues for a summary of the commercial matters the joint venture parties will need to weigh when establishing a property joint venture (JV). Corporate real estate JVs typically involve collaboration between parties able to source real estate (with one party possibly owning, and contributing to the joint venture company (JVC), the property to be developed), provide substantial capital to the JVC, supply or arrange debt funding (to finance the development) and offer the expertise to develop and/or manage the property. The JVA will document the parties’ agreement on their respective rights in relation to issues such as management...

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CHECKLISTS
Joint venture shareholders’ agreements and JV company articles: comprehensive drafting checklist—governance, finance, minority protections, transfers, disputes, termination and valuation (English law)

Purpose of Checklist The aim of this Checklist is to set out the types of factors that should be kept in view, and about which direction will be required, when preparing a joint venture agreement (sometimes referred to as a shareholders’ agreement) together with the articles of association for a joint venture company (JVC). It serves purely as guidance and does not claim to be comprehensive. This Checklist has been produced with English law requirements in mind and, while related issues will arise for an international joint venture agreement, one must acknowledge the limits of this Checklist where a foreign joint venture (JV) vehicle is used. For a Checklist covering the initial matters to be considered, and on which instructions should be obtained, when contemplating entry into a JV structure with a JV vehicle that is a private company limited by shares, see Checklist: Corporate joint venture preliminary issues—checklist. See also Precedents: Joint venture shareholders’ agreement—deadlock (50:50) and Joint venture shareholders’ agreement—majority/minority for Precedent joint venture agreements, and Precedents:...

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View the related News about Joint venture (JV)

NEWS
EU merger control daily round-up: DP World/Arcese JV cleared; Deutsche Börse/Lindner/Digital Vault notified; Liberty Media/Dorna timetable extended; Enstall/Schletter decision published (22 January 2025)

Mergers The Commission approved the establishment of a joint venture between DP World Logistics Europe B.V. and Arcese Transporti S.p.A...

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NEWS
EU competition update 8 January 2025: STRABAG/Becker JV clearance, simplified merger notifications, and CJEU State aid hearing in Commission v Bulgaria

Mergers Following a phase I investigation, the Commission approved the formation of a joint venture between STRABAG AG and Becker Umweltdienste GmbH (M.11790)—see further, Midday Express. The Commission received notifications for: General Atlantic/PSG/Hostaway (M.11864) (simplified merger procedure) Eichler Consulting/Maximilian Aicher/Evelyne Maria Aicher/Wolfgang Reitzle/Telchar Investments/RMH Production (M.11842) (simplified merger procedure) Ares/GCP (M.11787) (simplified merger procedure) Note—For ongoing merger investigations before the Commission, see the EU mergers—ongoing cases tracker. State aid The Court of Justice held a hearing in Case C‑632/23 Commission v Bulgaria (Échanges de terrains forestiers II), an action brought by the Commission against Bulgaria for failing to comply with Decision SA.26212 concerning aid granted to private forest owners—see further, application. Note—For all live State aid appeals before the Court of Justice, see the Court of Justice State aid appeals—ongoing cases tracker. Upcoming dates For dates of forthcoming EU competition developments, see...

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NEWS
EU merger control daily update: European Commission clears Meta/Reliance JV; new simplified notifications; upcoming dates (26 September 2025)

Mergers The Commission approved the establishment of a joint venture by Meta Platforms, Inc and Reliance Industries Limited (M.12070) after a phase I review—see further, Midday Express. The Commission received notifications in: Ergo/ASG/BVV/SPN (M.12098) (simplified merger procedure) AAR/Air France/Xcelle Americas JV (M.11887) (simplified merger procedure) AAR/Air France/Xcelle Asia JV (M.11886) (simplified merger procedure) NOTE—For all live merger investigations before the Commission, see EU mergers—ongoing cases tracker. Upcoming dates: For the timetable of forthcoming EU competition developments, see EU Competition calendar...

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View the related Practice Notes about Joint venture (JV)

PRACTICE NOTES
Deadlock in UK corporate joint ventures: triggers, reserved matters, and resolution mechanisms (escalation, ADR/expert determination, buy-sell options, share transfers, and termination via liquidation or winding up)

A deadlock arises when parties to an agreement face an irreconcilable dispute and cannot reach consensus. The expression is commonly associated with corporate joint ventures (JVs), especially 50:50 JVs where neither side holds a controlling interest and, as a result, unanimous consent is required for all decisions. Deadlock may equally occur in non-50:50 JVs, for example where specific matters demand unanimity or where more than two JV participants vote and no majority is achieved. Certain conflicts can trigger a deadlock that prevents the joint venture company (JVC) from operating effectively. It is sensible to address at the outset how a deadlock might be settled. Consequently, joint venture agreements (JVAs) usually include deadlock resolution mechanisms (often in stepped stages) that must be followed to resolve the impasse. Defining deadlock procedures within the JVA will save time and expense if a deadlock emerges and will help the parties to maintain the JV's continuity. On occasion, the very circumstances that produce a deadlock can also prompt the aggrieved party to seek relief under...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Cross-border joint ventures: tax planning, funding structures, asset contributions, profit extraction, loss utilisation, withholding and transfer pricing, foreign exchange controls, employee considerations and exit taxation

With appreciation to other contributors from Squire Patton Boggs offices across its global network. Cross-border JVs There is no single, universal approach to structuring cross-border joint ventures (JVs) (ie where one or more JV participants are based outside the UK and intend to establish a JV outside the UK). The provisions of any contract must ultimately set out the parties’ commercial arrangement. However, many of the legal points highlighted in this and the related Practice Notes: Cross-border joint ventures—initial considerations, Cross-border joint ventures—management and control, and Cross-border joint ventures—termination may influence the choice of jurisdiction for the JV vehicle, as well as the commercial bargain itself, and should therefore be assessed as early as possible to give the JV the best chance of success. Even if a joint venture agreement (JVA) uses a familiar governing law, such as English law, creating a cross-border JV can produce unexpected and unfamiliar issues. Each issue is covered at a relatively high level, but definitive local legal advice should always be taken...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Funding Corporate Joint Ventures: Structuring Equity and Debt, Third-Party Finance, Security, Guarantees and Intercreditor Arrangements, Future Funding Obligations, Default Remedies and Tax Considerations

Funding options When establishing a joint venture (JV), the parties must decide how it will be financed, both at the outset and throughout the life of the arrangement. Although this note focuses on the key funding issues typically arising in corporate JVs, the overarching principles are relevant to all JV structures. The selection of finance methods may turn on: the parties’ commercial aims the comparative resources available to each party whether the parties intend and are able to finance the JV themselves or if external finance will be required, and tax considerations A joint venture company (JVC) is usually financed, initially and on an ongoing basis, by a combination of the following methods: The joint venture agreement (JVA) should specify how the JV’s initial and future funding needs will be met...

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View the related Precedents about Joint venture (JV)

PRECEDENTS
Board minutes: JV company approving corporate real estate joint venture documentation, shareholder loans and property sale at exchange (UK Companies Act 2006)

Company number: [ insert company number ] [ Insert company name ] Limited Record of the board of directors’ meeting (the Meeting) of [ insert full name of company ] Limited (the Company). Venue: [ insert place of meeting ] | Date: [ insert day, month and year of meeting ] | Time: [ insert time of meeting ] [ am OR pm ] Present [ Insert names of the director(s) physically present ] [ [ Insert names of any directors present by telephone as permitted by the Company’s articles of association ] (by telephone) ] [ [ Insert names of any directors present by other means permitted by the Company’s articles of association ] (by [ insert other means ]) ] In attendance [ [ Insert name of anyone in attendance, who does not count towards the quorum for the Meeting (eg the company secretary, any legal advisers) ] ] Apologies [ [ Insert...

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PRECEDENTS
Joint venture compliance under competition law: staff guide to assessing anti-competitive risk, structuring and managing ventures, and safeguarding information exchanges

Associations with actual or potential competitors for the purpose of jointly undertaking a particular commercial enterprise or transaction Working with current or prospective rivals to carry out a specific business project or deal is ordinarily lawful when the pro-competitive gains of a joint venture (JV) surpass any anti-competitive drawbacks, provided the overall balance favours competition, if any. Pro-competitive advantages may include pushing technological progress, introducing novel products, services or market entrants, and securing economies of scale, meaning greater capacity with lower transaction costs. This guidance supports colleagues in designing, setting up and running JVs, with a particular emphasis on adhering to competition law by relevant staff members. Before suggesting or entering any JV, you must seek advice from [ insert, eg the legal team ] ...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent board minutes: completion of corporate real estate JV and freehold transfer—approvals, shareholder loans, share issues, appointments and Companies House filings (UK, Companies Act 2006)

Company number: [ insert company number ] [ Insert company name ] Limited Minutes of a meeting of the board of directors (the Meeting) of [ insert full name of company ] Limited (the Company) Held at: [ insert place of meeting ] Held on: [ insert day, month and year of meeting ] at [ insert time of meeting ] [ am OR pm ] Present: [ Insert names of the director(s) physically present ] [ [ Insert names of any directors present by telephone as permitted by the Company’s articles of association ] (by telephone) ] [ [ Insert names of any directors present by other means permitted by the Company’s articles of association ] (by [ insert other means ]) ] In attendance: [ [ Insert name of anyone in attendance, who does not count towards the quorum for the Meeting (eg the company secretary, any legal advisers) ] ] ...

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